Spirit Gate upgrades keep Whiteman safe

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The construction project to renovate the Spirit Gate entry control point is scheduled to be complete May 17, providing Whiteman with a new, non-lethal net barrier system, additional anti-ram cables and two new inspection lanes.

Currently, the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron and contractors are working within phase 3, of 4 phases, which includes maintaining inbound traffic only flowing through the Spirit Gate to the outbound lanes.

"This gives contractors more room to work with their heavy equipment in construction with the inspection lanes as well as removing the old barrier within the inbound lanes," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Winkels, 509th CES project manager.

The new system is more user friendly, according to Staff Sgt. Stephen Sutterfield, 509th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of confinement facility and alternate NCO in charge on police services.

"The net barrier is less likely to cause catastrophic damage to personnel or vehicles while providing the same stopping abilities as the barriers," said Sutterfield. "For the construction side of the house, the new search lanes are designed to drastically reduce the risk to security forces personnel when conducting vehicle searches because we have a designated location to conduct them."

The Spirit Gate will remain as inbound traffic only scheduled through May 3, according to the project manager.

"Once the old barriers are removed and the holes are filled with concrete then inbound traffic will be shifted from the outbound lanes to the inbound lanes and the same work will be done on the outbound side," Winkels said.

The net barrier has been tested and is fully operational, according to Winkels.

"Once it is fully activated, drivers will see the green traffic light turned on at the barrier," Winkels said. "Drivers need to pay attention to those traffic lights as well as the yellow flashing lights when approaching the intersection."

If drivers are approaching the intersection and the yellow lights activate and the street light transitions from green to yellow, then drivers need to stay clear of the barriers and sensor strips, which are just beyond the net on both sides and in both lanes.

"Additionally, drivers must adhere to the traffic signs and to the white strips painted across the lanes," Winkels said. "This also applies to the existing barrier systems at the Arnold and LeMay Gates."
Drivers are reminded to never stop on barriers.

"During rush hour(s), do not pack in the outbound lanes bumper to bumper -- doing so will slow down traffic," Winkels said.

While the site is under construction the speed limit from the guard shack to Travis Lane is 15 mph. Upon project completion, the speed limits will return to the posted mph. Drivers need to adhere to all speed limits and barrier warning and signal lights.

"Security measures are put in place to keep Team Whiteman safe," Sutterfield said.